Get to know: Prof. Helmut Salih

Helmut Salih is working in the field of tumor immunology/biology. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms influencing tumor-immune interaction, with the aim to develop novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. He analyzes the function of immunoregulatory molecules, in particular the NKG2D/NKG2D ligand molecule system and members of the TNF/TNFR family, in immune and tumor cells (including putative tumor stem cells) and the influence of other healthy cells like platelets on antitumor immunity [e.g., 1]. 

This aims to improve the efficacy of available immunotherapeutic strategies and, even more importantly, to identify novel targets for the key aspect of his work: the development of novel monoclonal and bispecific antibody constructs for induction of NK and T cell anti-tumor reactivity until the stage of clinical trials. Recent work comprises the development and clinical evaluation of Fc-optimized and bispecific FLT3 antibodies in leukemia [e.g., 2, NCT02789254, NCT05143996] and a PSMAxCD3 bispecific antibody for treatment of prostate and lung cancer [e.g., 3, NCT04104607, NCT04496674, NCT05646550]. 

These examples illustrate the superordinate goal of his research: the rapid translation of results from basic science into clinical application (bench to bedside), which is central for his understanding of “Translational Immunology”. We hope that Helmut Salih and his team continue to enjoy their research within iFIT!

[1] Paczulla AM, Rothfelder K, Raffel S, Konantz M, Steinbacher J, Mbarga M, Wang H, Schaefer T, Tandler C, Falcone M, Nievergall E, Dörfel D, Passweg JR, Lutz C, Schwaller J, Zeiser R,  Blazar BR, Caligiuri MA, Dirnhofer S, Lundberg P, Kanz L, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Steinle A, Trumpp A, Salih HR*, Lengerke C: Absence of NKG2D ligands defines human leukaemia stem cells and mediates their immune evasion. Nature. 572(7768):254-9. (2019); *Corresponding and shared senior author

[2] Mehta NK, Pfluegler M, Meetze K, Li B, Sindel I, Vogt F, Marklin M, Heitmann JS, Kauer J, Osburg L, Zekri L, Bühring HJ, Mueller S, Hörner S, Baeuerle PA, Michaelson JS, Jung G, Salih HR. A novel IgG-based FLT3xCD3 bispecific antibody for the treatment of AML and B-ALL. J Immunother Cancer 10(3):e003882 (2022)

[3] Zekri L, Vogt F, Osburg L, Müller S, Kauer J, Manz T, Pflügler M,  Maurer A, Heitmann JS, Hagelstein I, Märklin M, Hörner S, Todenhöfer T, Calaminus C, Stenzl A, Pichler B, la Fougère C, Schneider MA, Rammensee HG, Zender L, Sipos B, Salih HR*, Jung G*: An IgG-based bispecific antibody for improved dual targeting in PSMA positive cancer. EMBO Mol Med. 13(2):e11902 (2021) *shared senior author